What kind of materials and/or books will you record? Although we will not record material that is of a lewd or strictly pornographic nature, we will record virtually any type of print material, including but not limited to; textbooks, leisure reading, instructional materials, religious publications, magazines, newsletters, etc.. Textbooks and educational materials are always given priority. We will NOT record books or materials that are available through other libraries or those things that can be purchased commercially.
Who is eligible to receive/request audio recordings from Readings for the Blind? Anyone who is blind, visually impaired, or learning disabled. We also serve the physically disabled who are unable to hold a book or turn pages.
What geographic area do you serve? We serve all eligible clients living within the 48 contiguous states.
What is the difference between two-track and four-track cassette recordings? Two-track is the standard format for cassette tapes, and can be played on any standard cassette player. Four-track is a specialized format for the blind, and requires a special tape player. Most ordinary cassettes play for sixty to ninety minutes. Using the special four-track, half-speed format, a tape that would normally play only ninety minutes can play for six hours. We can record using two-track or four-track, depending on the preference of the client.
How long will it take you to record my book? There is no standard answer to this question since so many variables affect how long it will take to complete a recording. We make every attempt to record your materials promptly, but please be aware that it can be a lengthy process. Variables affecting turn-around time usually include volunteer availability, as well as, length and difficulty of material being recorded. Most books/materials take several weeks to several months to complete. If you need the recording within a certain timeframe, please get it to RFTB with these timeframes in mind. Also, please remember textbooks and educational materials are always given priority over other recording requests.
How many tapes or CD's will it take to record my book? There I no way to estimate how many cassettes or CD's will be needed to record your book or material. Variables include number of pages, print size, number of pictures or diagrams, speed of the reader, two-track or four-track, and difficulty of subject matter.
Are you affiliated with Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic? No. While our missions are similar, we are two different agencies. Readings for the Blind is a private, non-profit agency with only one office, located in Southfield, Michigan. We frequently refer people to other agencies including Recordings for Blind and Dyslexic in an effort to provide needed services.
Do you print a catalog of your recordings? No. Since we are constantly adding to our library, any catalog would be quickly outdated. However, all our titles are listed in a national database called Louis, administered the American Printing House for the Blind. This database lists over 152,000 books offered by more than 200 agencies nationwide. You can access the database by logging on to www.aph.org or you can call #800-223-1839. You can search the database by title, author, keyword, subject or ISBN. Searching the Louis database gives you the advantage of knowing what agency has the audio recording you are looking for. Referring to the Louis database can save you time and aggravation.